Share

Apple Plant Conditions Better Than Others, Auditor Says

The Fair Labor Association commented on Apple manufacturing partners' labor practices on Thursday, recognizing their standards as "way above average of the norm."

"The facilities are first-class," FLA president Auret van Heerden told Reuters after visiting partner manufacturer Foxconn in Shenzen, China. "The physical conditions are way, way above average of the norm."

FLA's recent audits of Apple partner manufacturers coincide with growing criticism of the companies' manufacturing policies. The issue was especially brought to the forefront in light of a series of New York Times articles released last month, which reported harsh working conditions inside Foxconn manufacturing plants.

Moreover, unfair labor practice protestors took to the streets outside of Apple stores around the world, demanding that the company take actions to improve working conditions at the company's partner plants.

Van Heerden "offered no immediate conclusions on the working conditions," according to Reuters, "but he noted that boredom and alienation could have contributed to the stress that led some workers to take their own lives."

Though van Heerden dismissed criticism that it might paint a "cursory and positive" picture of Apple's suppliers, his positive remarks are unlikely to calm FLA's critics who have called the FLA a "public relations mouthpiece" for big corporations.

Going forward, the FLA will investigate the rest of Apple's top eight suppliers including Quanta Computer Inc, Pegatron Corp, and Wintek Corp, among others. An interim report of results of the audits will be available to the public this March.